Bag-handling machine



Feb. 8, 1944. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31,1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 7. J M aa% 5 Ri m w N 5 m WMZZ W O a T Nu: T 7.,A Zr

W Y E B H 7 1944- w. D. KlMBALL ET AL 2,340,833

BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQM I THE/l?ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944. w. D. KlM BALL EIAL BAG HANDLING MACHINE FiledJuly 31, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Rab. 8 N44. w. D. KlMBALL ET AL BAGHANDLING MACHINE Filed July 51, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb 8, 1 944. w.D. KIMBALL ET AL BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1939 10Sheets-Sheet 6 THE/R ATTORNEY5 Feb 1944- W. D. KIMBALL ET AL 2,340,83

BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet v HE-I A VWaZZace D. imball MQZcoZm C. FauZZ (0794512 us I Bra)? Feb. 8, N44. w.D. KIMBALL ET AL BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1939 10Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 8, 1944. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL BAG HANDLING MACHINEFiled July 51, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 mam 54mm ar Q F TF my Hum a a WMCB THE/R ATTORNEYS all Faulz Feb. 8, 1944.-

W. D. KIMBALL ET AL BAG HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1959 10Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTQ ace D. ffzm [calm Ma. 07776220513762)??? THE/RATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1944 BAG-HANDLING momma Wallace 1). mm andMalcolm McFanll, Jackson Heights, and Cornelius I. Braren, Jamaica,

Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,526

16 Claims. (Cl. 226-47) This invention relates to machines for handlingbags such as are used for packaging sugar, salt, fiour and otherproducts, and, more particularly. to machines for receiving such bags inpartially opened condition, opening them, holding and supporting them inopen position while they are being filled and then closing the mouths ofthe filling, closing, stitching and delivering the bags without anyfurther attention by the operator.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of theaccompanying drawin s which illustrate by way of example one embodimentof our invention in a machine which is intended primarily for handlingsugar bags. In these drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of our improved machine with certain partsomitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a similar rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l, the frontoi! the machine, where the operator stands, being towards the bottom ofthe figure.

Figs. .5 and 6 are horizontal sections taken respectively on line -5 and5-6 of Fig. 1 showing the segmental bag supporting platform;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 1 showing thecams for actuating the platform segments to jolt the bags and todischarge them from the machine;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-9 of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line lB-lfl of Fig. 3 showingthe driving gearing;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on line lI-ll of Fig-4 showing thebag-shaking mechanism -Fig. 12 is a vertical section on line |2 of Fig.4 showing part of the sewing mechanism control;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on line l3-I3 of Fig. 4 showing the sewingmechanism stopping cam and cam for moving the filling spout;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on line ll-ll of Fig. 4 showing theone-revolution clutch for controlling the operation of the bag-fillingmechanism (not shown) Figs. 15 and 16 are views drawn to an enlargedscale of the mechanism for manipulating the mouths of the bags, Fig. 15being a horizontal section taken on line l5-l5 of Fig. 16 and also ofFig. 3, and Fig. 16 being a front elevation of the mouth-manipulatingmechanism;

Figs. 17-25 are detailed views drawn to a still larger scale;

Fig. 1'? is a vertical section on line l'l-ll of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a similar section on line Ill-l8 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a similar section on line l9-I9 of Fi 5:

Fig. 20 is a similar section on line 20-20 of Fig. 4 showing the sewingand thread-cutting mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bag mouth manipulatingmechanism shown in Figs. 15 and 16 and looking from the right hand ofthose figures partly in section on line 21-2! of Fig. 15, and showingthe position of the line of stitching;

Figs. 22 and 23 are views drawn to greatly enlarged scale showing thebag mouth holding mechanism for one bag in fully extended position, asduring the filling operation, Fig. 22 being a horizontal section on line22-22 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 24 is a detail vertical section taken on line 24-2! of Fig. 22; and

Fig. 25 is a greatly enlarged section of a bagholding finger showing agripping roller in sectional view.

Referring now to these drawings, the machine of the present invention issupported upon a single vertical cylindrical column I which exten'dsupwardly from a base member 2. The machine comprises in general abag-supporting platform 3 made up of a plurality of segmental sections,as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and a rotary frame designated generallyby numeral 4, together with bag-filling mechanism including a fillinghopper and spout 5 and sewing mechanism 8.

Theplatiorm 3 serves to support the bottoms of the bags after they arefilled with sugar from filling spout 5. The rotary frame I is providedwith devices for holding and manipulating the mouths of the bags duringfilling and also during a jolting and shaking operation which takesplace at the time of filling and shortly thereafter for the purpose ofpacking the sugar into each bag so as to leave the upper portion of thebag free to enable its opposite sides to be brought into contact withone another and sewed together. After the sewing operation is completed,the mouth of the bag is released by its manipulating mechanism and theplatform segment upon which the bag rests is tilted as shown at I inFigs. 1 and 3, causing the completed package to slide off onto aconveyor 8 shown at the right of Fi 3.

The machine is driven by a motor 9 mounted on a bracket at the top ofcolumn i, which; through a belt I0, drives a main shaft II which extendshorizontally about half way across a rec-- tangular platform I2 (Figs. 4and 2). This platform is rigidly fixed in position upon column I. andshaft II is supported thereon by means of a journal bearing I3 and aworm gear housing I4. The worm I5 within this housing on shaft H drivesworm gear l6 which is fixed upon a vertical shaft I1.

It is necessary that the rotary frame with its bag mouth manipulatingdevices and the rotary platform 3 for supporting the bottoms of the bagsbe rotated in the same direction and at exactly the same speed, and thegearing shown in side view in Fig. 3 and in plan view in Fig. 10 isprovided for this purpose. The lower end of vertical shaft I1 carries asmall gear 18 which meshes with an internal gear I9 on the rotary frame4 to drive the same in the clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow-inFig. 10. Also on shaft I1 is a pinion 20 which meshes with a gear 2I ona short parallel shaft 22 and this gear 2I drives a large gear 23 whichis mounted at the top of a sleeve 24 which is arranged to rotate oncolumn I and is supported in appropriate horizontal position by means ofa collar 25. The gearing 20, 2I, 23 is arranged to drive rotary frame 4and sleeve 24 at the same angular velocity and in the same direction.

Extending downwardly from collar 24 are two vertical driving rods 26 forthe rotary segmental platform or table 3 which is constructed asfollows:

Each of the segments, 6 in number in the machine shown in the drawingsby way of example, is pivoted to a supporting sleeve 21, which snuglysurrounds column I but is slidable vertically thereon, by means ofhinged joints 28 formed by suitable lugs on the supporting sleeve and onbrackets 29, respectively, these lugs having the usual hinge pinspassing through them. The platform segments are maintained in horizontalposition, moved up and down for the purpose of jolting and packing the'sugar in the bags, or tilted to the position shown at I, for dischargingthe filled bags, by means of rollers at the lower ends of short verticalstuds 30 which project downwardly from brackets 29. Each of studs 30 isprovided with two rollers 3| and 32. Rollers 3| cooperate with asupporting cam member 33, and rollers 32 with a jolting cam member 34(Figs. 7 and 8).

The supporting sleeve 21 for the bag-supporting segmental platform 3 isheld in any desired vertical position on column I by means of anadjustable sleeve 35. This sleeve is adjusted in position and held inits adjusted position by means of a rack 36 bolted to column I, pinion31 and the worm and gear mechanism 38 shown in Fig. 1. Hence by applyinga wrench to the worm shaft of this mechanism 38, bag platform 3 can beadjusted to any desired vertical position with respect to the rotaryframe 4 to suit the height of bag which it is desired for the machine tohandle.

It will be understood that supporting sleeve 21 for platform 3 rotatesfreely on the upper surface of adjusting sleeve 35. The driving rods 26for rotating the platform are slidably received in a pair of lugs 39(Figs. 3 and 10) Carried also by driving rods 26 is a circularpositioning ring and guard member 40 which serves to position the bagsin upright condition, as shown in Fig. 1, in dotted lines after theyhave been filled. This guard member may be adjusted vertically on rods25 by means of the set screws ll.

' As shown in Figs. 7 and 8,. the supporting cam 33 and jolting cam 34are each angularly adjustable about the axis of column I. For thispurpose they are mounted by means of the bolt and slot connectionsillustrated in these figures upon a flange 42 which projects outwardlyfrom adjusting sleeve 35. By this means the timing of the commencementof the period of jolting can be adjusted as desired with respect to thefilling operation, and by adjusting supporting cam 33 the time oftilting for the discharge of the filled bag can be adjusted with respectto the sewing operation.

The mechanism for supporting and manipulating the mouths of thebags,that is to say, for holding the bag mouths and opening them and closingthem at the proper times, is illustrated in front view in Fig. 16, inhorizontal section in Fig. 15, and details are illustrated in Figs. 17to 25, inclusive. Some, though not all, of the parts of this mechanismare shown also in Figs. 1-4, inclusive. This mechanism comprises therotary frame 4 which carries the devices for receiving and holding themouths of the bags, and means comprising a set of circular cams,indicated generally by numeral 43, for actuating these bag-holdingdevices, all of which will be described in detail presently.

The rotary frame 4 comprises two ring-shaped members 44 and 45. Ringmember 44 has an inwardly projecting annular rib upon which the teeth ofinternal gear I9 are out (see Figs. 3, 10 and 17). This annular rib alsoserves to support ring member 44 and hence rotary frame 4 through itsengagement with three flanged rollers 46. These rotate on vertical stubshafts which are secured by bolts 41 to a horizontal flange 48 of astationary and generally circular support 49 which is integral withrectangular platform I2. Stationary support 49 and rectangular platformI2 are supported in fixed position upon column I by means of sleeves 50and 5I (Fig. 3) which are clamped around this column.

The other ring-shaped member 45 of rotary frame 4 is secured to thelower rim of ring member 44 by suitable screws as illustrated in Figs. 3and 19, and from the horizontal flange through which these screwspassthis member extends downwardly in the form of a cylindrical apronagainst which the outer sides of the bags B1 to 36 shown in dotted linesin Fig. 15 are held by the bag-holding devices.

The bag-holding and mouth-manipulating devices for each of the bagpositions B1 to Be, inclusive, are identical, and for each of thesepositions there are four bag-holding fingers F1, F2 F3 and F4.

These fingers are all alike and are arranged to project downwardly intothe mouth of The bag to engage the bag on the inside. They arepreferably constructed in the form of rollcrs 52 illustrated in detailin Fig. 25 which are freely rotatable on a spindle 53, and each of theserollers has a pair of spaced knurled ribs 54 which frictionally engagethe interstices of the fabric of which the bags are made in such a wayas to efiectively prevent the bags from slipping out of position. Two ofthese fingers F3 and F4 are mounted at the ends of arms 55 and 55 whichare arranged to swing outwardy with respect to the rotary frame 4 andwith respect to the other two fingers F1 and F: so as to hold the bag inopen position with the mouth of the bag stretched about these fourfingers, each of the fingers engaging the inside of the mouth of the bagjust below the top, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 1'1.

Arm 55 is supported on a bracket 51 to which it is attached by pivot 58which permits the arm to swing horizontally from the dotted positionshown in Fig. 22 to the full line position. In the dotted position thearm engages a. spring finger 59, and in the outward position to which itis biased by means of a spring 60 his stopped by the engagement ofshoulder 51 with the surface of the bracket. Arm 55 is pivoted in asimilar way at 52 to a bracket 53 and is biased towards its full lineposition by means of helical spring 54. A stop shoulder 55 on the armengages the bracket to hold the arm in the desired outward position.Brackets 51 and 83 are bolted to ring member 44 of rotary frame 4 inpairs as shown in Fig. so as to form the bag-holding positions indicatedby reference numerals B1 to Be, inelusive, and as frame 4 rotates, allof the bagholding devices are carried around with it.

The inner finger F2 is mounted on the lower side of brackets 51 andinner finger F1 is carried by bracket 53. F1 is a take-up finger and isyieldably mounted as indicated in Figs. 22 and 24 in order to compensatefor variation in the size of the bag mouths since bags of the samenominal size necessarily vary somewhat. Finger F1 in Fig. 22 is in theposition it occupies when a bag of a given size is in place. With a baghaving a somewhat smaller mouth, finger F1 will be shifted slightly tothe right compressing spring 55. The yieldable mounting of this take-upfinger comprises a block 56 which slides in a channel that extendshorizontally of bracket 53, block 55 being urged to the left by Spring55.

When it is desired to change the mouth size of the bag which is to behandled by the machine, a different set of arms 55 and 55 is applied torotary frame 4. Adjustment as to height is made as previously described.

Some bags are made with a single vertical seam at one side, and othershave two seams, one at each side. It will be understood that in order tomake a presentable package the bags must be so stitched that the seam,or seams, will be substantially straight with the sides of the bag, or,in the case of a two-seam bag, for example, it must be so stitched thatthe seams will be located substantially at the opposite ends of the lineof stitching. For this reason when the operator places each bag in themachine a seam is placed adjacent take-up finger F1. If the bag has twoseams. the other seam will be located adjacent finger F3 on arm 55. Theoperator holds the fourth comer of the bag with the hand temporarily, asindicated in Figs. 1 and 15, until arm 55 swings outwardly bringingfinger F1 into engagement with this corner of the bag, as the bagrotates from position B1 to filling position 13: as will presently bedescribed.

It is important that the line of stitching which closes the mouth of thebag be parallel to the top of the bag, as shown in Fig. 21, and afterthe ba is filled with sugar, the weight of the sugar tends to make thecenter of the bag sag somewhat. This sa ging tends to occur principallyalong the inner side of the bag between fingers F1 and F2, and in orderto prevent such sagging, and also to prevent the bag from shifting itsposition after it has been properly placed on the holding fingers F1 toF4, a gripping device, indicated generally by numeral 59, is providedwhich is illustrated in detail in Figs. 18, 23 and 22. This comprisesafinger 10 which is pivoted at 1| to a small supporting bracket 12 whichis secured by screws shown in Fig. 23 to ring member 44 of the rotaryframe 4 intermediate the brackets 51 and 53. At the lower end of thisfinger 10 there is a fiat vertical face 13 at the center of which is asingle protruding button 14. Face 13 and button 14 are adapted to engagethe inner surface of the bag near the top and clamp it against thesurface of apron member 45 in which there is a small aperture 15 intowhich the fabric is forced by the button 14 in order to get a bettergrip on the bag.

The three circular cams indicated generally by numeral 43 are providedto actuate and control the movement of the swinging arms 55 and 55 andthe clamping finger 10. These three cams are supported in stationaryposition, one above the other, by means of suitable brackets attached tothe stationary circular support 49. Cam 15, which is the uppermost ofthe three cams, controls clamping finger 10 by engaging a roller 11 atthe upper end of this finger. This cam is also the shortest of the threeand its extent is indicated in Fig. 10. While roller 11 is in contactwith cam 15 the gripping finger is held out of engagement with and inspaced relation to apron member 45 so as to permit the bag to beinserted by the operator standing in front of the machine while each ofthe sets of bag holding fingers passes the front of the machine atapproximately the position indicated by reference numeral B1 in Fig. 15.

Cam 15, which is the middle cam, is the longest of the three cams andengages roller 19 of arm 55 which supports the bag-holding finger F3.Cam 80, the lowermost cam, cooperates with roller 8| on arm 55 whichcarries bag-holding finger F4. The reference numerals have been appliedto these cams at their opposite ends in Figs. 10 and 15 in order thatthe extent of each cam may be quickly seen.

The operator places the bags one at a time by hand at the position B1without stopping the machine; that is to say, the rotary frame 4 and bagsupporting platform 3 rotate continuously at moderately slow speed sothat there is ample opportunity for the operator to place the mouth ofthe bag behind fingers F1 and F2 and around finger F3 which, asindicated in Fig. 15, is now in its extended position. The operator thenholds the fourth corner of the bag with a finger, as indi cated atposition B1 and continues to hold the bag in this manner until roller 5|reaches the point 82 on cam 15 where arm 55 is permitted to movegradually outward. As this occurs, finger F4 gradually moves out andengages the corner of the bag, and shortly before reaching the positionBa, roller 81 is released by the end of cam 15 and the bag is entirelysupported by the four fingers F1 to F4.

At approximately the position B2 and continuing towards the position Ba,thefilling mechanism, indicated generally by numeral 83, operates todeliver a measured quantity of sugar into the hopper and spout 5. Thishopper and spout is arranged to travel with the bag which is beingfilled until the discharge of the material through spout 5 has beencompleted and the mechanism for moving the hopper will be describedlater on. The hopper is elongated as shown in Fig. 4 so as to permit thecharge from the filling mechanism 83 to be received within the hopperduring this movement.

At approximately the time when the charge commences to descend into thebag, the jolting of the bag to pack the sugar within it commences, thisbeing accomplished as previously described by the coaction of cam 34 androller 32 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8). Also before the closing of the bagcommences and after the charge of sugar has been received in it, the bagis given a sidewise shaking movement by means of a pair of arms 84having bag-engaging plates 85 at their lower ends for engaging the sidesof the bag. The mechanism for actuating these shaking plates will bedescribed presently.

After the charge of sugar within the bags has been shaken down solidlyby the jolting and shaking movements, the closing of the bag commencesby the substantially simultaneous engagement of rollers I9 and 8I bytheir actuating cams 89 and 18. These cams gradually turn arms 55 and 56inwardly towards apron member 45 of rotary frame 4. This swings theouter bagholding fingers F3 and F4 first substantially into the plane offingers F1 and F2, as shown at the position B4 in Fig. 15, and thencarries these fingers further inwardly until the opposite sides of thebag from seam to seam are brought against the outer surface of apronmember 95 as shown in the position B5 in Figs. 15 and 21. The swingingmovement of fingers F3 and F4 with respect to fingers F1 and F2 producesfirst a parallelogram figure when the mouth of the bag is viewed in topview and then brings the opposite sides of the bag into flat and smoothcontact with one another. During this folding of the bag mouth, take-upfinger F1 may shift slightly, and the operator soon learns about howclose thereto the seam of the bag shouldbe placed so that after thisshifting has occurred the seam will be behind this finger; then theopposite side of the bag, or the opposite seam (if it is a two-seam bag)will be adjacent or behind finger F3 when the bag is folded into sewingposition against apron member 45.

With the mouth of the bag in this position, it is carried past thesewing mechanism 6 and a line of stitching 88 is sewed a short distancefrom the top of the bag and close beneath the bottom edge of apronmember 45. This is shown in Fig. 21, in which the sewing machine needleis indicated by reference numeral 81 at substantially the completion ofthe line of stitching 86. 'Just after the bag has moved from theposition shown at the left in Fig. 21, the position Be, or in otherwords, after the completion of the stitching, the roller I9 passesbeyond the end of cam 89 and arm 55 is released and flies out to theopen position shown at bag position B1 in Fig. '15. At about the sametime roller 11 is engaged by the upper cam I6 which releases thebag-holding finger I9 and the top of the bag is thus freed from rotaryframe 4. At substantially the same time, the particular segment ofplatform 3 on which the bag is resting is tilted to position I, Fig. 1and Fig. 3, by the supporting roller 3| leaving the end of supportingcam 33 (Fig. 7). This causes the discharge of the filled and closed bagonto the conveyor 8.

The filling mechanism, shaking mechanism, sewing machine controlmechanism and threadcutting mechanism remain to be described. All ofthese mechanisms are actuated in whole or in part from slow speed shafts88 and 889. which are held in alinement with one another by means of asleeve 89 which is pinned to shaft 88a but which makes a loose fit withshaft 88. Shaft 88 is supported by a journal in worm gear housing I4 andis driven continuously by bevelled gearing 99 from slow speed verticalshaft I7. The outer end of shaft 889. is journaled in a bracket 9|mounted near the end of rectangular platform I2.

Shaft 88 rotates continuously and shaft 88a rotates with it so long asthe clutch mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 92 is inengagement. The construction of this clutch will be described below.

The filling mechanism 83 which is not illustrated in detail is driven bymeans of a chain Y 93 from a sprocket 94 keyed to shaft 88a. Thisfilling mechanism is arranged to deliver a measured amount of thematerial to be packed for each complete revolution of shaft 88a. That isto say, for each revolution of shaft 88a the filling mechanism deliversa charge of sugar, for example, to the hopper and spout 5 sufiicient toproperly fill the bag beneath the spout. The

. clutch mechanism 92 is of the one-revolution type and comprises a disc(Fig. 14) which is pinned to continuously rotating shaft 89 and which isprovided with a single notch 96, together with an arm 91 which isintegral with sleeve 89 which, as mentioned previously, is fixed toshaft 88a. On one side of arm 95 a dog 99 is pivoted, the head of whichis arranged to engage notch 96 and hence drive arm 91 and shaft 88a.This dog is biased into engagement with this notch by a helical spring99 and is provided with a tail portion I99, by means of which it isrotated about its pivot out of engagement with notch 99 when tailportion I99 strikes the upper surface of release member I M, which ismounted on a horizontal shaft I92 and arranged to be moved into the pathof rotation of tail I99 by means of a lever I93 also fixed to shaft I92.Alongside of releasing member MI is a back lash preventer I 94 which isa hook shaped memberposition by means of a fiat spring I99. Hence theclutch release member I 9| and back lash preventer I94 are normally heldout of the path of the rotating parts of the clutch as shown in Fig. 14.

It is intended that the rotary frame 4 and platform 3 shall rotatecontinuously and that the operator shall place bags upon the machine aseach set of fingers F1 to F4, inclusive, reaches the position 31 (Fig.15) at the front of the machine. In order, however, to prevent a chargeof sugar from descending into spout I should it be impossible for theoperator to properly attach a bag at any given time, it is provided thatwhen the operator starts to place a bag upon the fingers at position B1,the foot pedal I08 shall be depressed and held depressed until roller 3|has been released from cam 18 and arm 53 has swung out carrying fingerFainto engagement with the bag mouth. At that time the operator releasesfoot pedal I03 and the clutch control members IOI and I04 return totheir normal position shown in Fig. 14. During the time that the pedalis depressed, arm 31 will be rotating in the counterclockwise direction,as shown by the arrow, towards the clutch control members. However,before the tail I of dog 93 strikes the end of release member IOI, thefoot pedal and lever I03 will, under ordinary conditions, have beenreleased by the operator and the control members moved back out of thepath of the tail I00, so that the clutch remains in engaged posi. tionand the filling mechanism is operated to fill the bag. Should theoperator not be able to place the bag properly on the fingers F1 to F4,the pedal I08 will be kept depressed, and this will disengage the clutchand prevent delivery of the load of sugar into spout 5.

The mechanism for shaking the bag sidewise is illustrated particularlyin Fig. 11 and also in Figs. 4, and several of the other figures. Theoperating cam H0 is secured to shaft 33s and has a single projectionwhich engages a roller I II on an arm II2 which is fixed to a short rockshaft II3 supported in a bearing bracket II4. On the opposite end ofthis shaft is a cross arm II5 carrying at its opposite end the verticalarms 34 which carry at their lower ends the bag-shaking plates 35.

The mechanism for moving hopper and spout 3 to cause it to follow themoving bag is illustrated in Figs. 4, 1 and 13. The spout is supportedupon a horizontal arm IIG which projects from a narrow sleeve II1 whichcan turn freely on column I but is held between fixed collars above andbelow. a

An actuating cam H8 is fixed on shaft- 33 and engages a roller II9 (Fig.13) on a vertical arm I20 which is pivoted at its upper end to a bracketI2I. A link I22 is pivoted to the lower end of arm I20 and at itsopposite end to a stud I23 which projects downwardly from the side ofarm H6. The roller H9 is held in contact with the surfaceof the cam II3by means of a helical spring I24 shown in Fig. 4 which is connectedbetween arm H3 and frame 49.

The sewing machine control is shown particularly in Figs. 4, 12 and 13and also in Fig. 2. The sewing mechanism 3 is driven by means of a beltI25 from a driving pulley I23 which is secured to the end of a hollowshaft I21 which is journalled in a bearing bracket I28. The bore throughthe center of hollow shaft I21 is large enough so that shaft II passesthrough it without touching it. Keyed to shaft II close to one side ofdriving pulley I23 is a friction driving disc I29 and the side surfaceof pulley I23 is adapted to be shifted into frictional engagement withdisc I29 to drive the pulley.

This shifting is accomplished by means of a grooved collar I30 mountedupon and preferably integral with the outer end of hollow shaft I21,this collar being engaged by forked arm I3I (Fig. 12) pivoted at I32 toa boss on rectangular platform I2. Forked arm I32 is urged by a helicalengagement with friction disc I28, and these parts are normally held outof engagement by a latch I34 which engages a short pin I35 on the upperface of an extension I33 of the lower arm of the forked member I 3I.

Latch I34 is fixed to the upper end of a shaft I31 which extendsdownwardly through supporting platform I2 and at its lower end has anarm I33 yieldably secured thereto. A spring I33 surrounding shaft I31biases latch I34 into engagement with pin I33.

Whenever a filled bag on rotating platform 3 approaches the sewingmechanism 3, it engages arm I33 and moves it outwardly, thus releasinglatch I34 from pin I33 and permitting spring I33 to cause forked arm I3Ito shift pulley I23 into engagement with friction disc I20, and sincedisc I29 rotates continuously this starts the sewing mechanism inoperation. The sewing mechanism is maintained in operation until afterthe bag has passed the position Ba of Fig. 21 whereupon it is desirablethat the sewing mechanism be stopped. This is accomplished by movingforked arm I30 in the opposite direction to release driving pulley I23from the rotating friction disc I23 and resetting pin I 36 behind latchI34. This movement of forked arm I3l is effected by means of a face camI40 which cooperates with a roller I4I (Figs. 4 and 13), this rollerbeing mounted at the upper end of an arm I42 which is pivoted toplatform I2. This arm is connected by means of a link I43 to forked armI3I.

' The length of the line of stitching for a small bag, a five pound bag,for example, is obviously shorter than that for a ten pound bag, and itis desirable to stop the operation of the sewing machine as soon as theline of stitching has been completed. To adjust this point oftermination of the operation of the sewing machine, face cam I40 is madeadjustable. The cam is made of two interfitting cup-shaped members whichmay be shifted angularly relative to each other to vary the length ofthe dwell, or, in other words, to vary the point at which the hump onthis cam engages roller HI and shifts the clutch mechanism to disengagedposition.

At the end of the sewing operation the thread is cut oil by means ofautomatic cutting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 10 and 20. Thismechanism comprises a rotary cutting disc I45 which is drivencontinuously by means of a belt I43 from a separate driving motor I41.Motor I41 is carried on a bracket I48 projecting from a collar fixed tocolumn I and the rotary cutter I45 is mounted for rotation at the lowerend of a supporting bar I49 which is pivoted on the motor shaft andhangs downward therefrom and is adapted to be swung back'and forth so asto bring the. rotary cutter into and out of engagement with the thread.

Simultaneously with the approach of the cutter to the thread from oneside, a thread holding member I50 approaches the thread from theopposite side. This motion is accomplished by the parallelogram linkageI5I shown in Figs. 1 and 20. The thread-holding member I50 is adjustablymounted on the lower horizontal member I52 of this linkage, and thelinkage is actuated by a horizontal link I53 pivotally connected toswinging arm I49.

The actuation of the thread-cutting mechanism to cut off the thread atthe proper time is provided for by means of a cam I54 on the lowerspring I33 in a direction to move pulley I23 into end of verticalslow-speed shaft I1 shown in Figs.

segmental platform on which it rests at posi-.

tion 1 of Fig. 1, roller I55 moves over the step of cam I54, thuscausing the thread cutter to operate to cut off the thread. Thereafterthe thread cutter is gradually retracted so as to be in position to cutoff the thread for the next ba ft will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the exact details shown in the accompanying drawings,-but that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a supporting member having atleast three flanged rollers mounted thereon to rotate about verticalaxes, a bag mouth supporting frame having an internal ring portionengaging said flanged rollers to support the'frame, a bag-supportingtable, and means for rotating said frame and table in unison.

2. In a machine of the class described, bag mouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a circular frame having a plurality ofbag positions and at each of said positions a pair of fingers adapted toproject into the interior of the bag mouth mounted in spaced relation onsaid frame, a pair of arms, one pivoted to the frame adjacent each ofsaid fingers, and each carrying at its outer end a bag mouth engagingfinger, means for biasing said arms to swing outwardly from said frameso as to cause said fingers to hold the mouth of a bag stretched intoopen position for filling, means for rotating said frame, and cammembers extending circumferentially along said frame to cause the armsat said respective bag positions to be swung adjacent said frame so asto close one side of the bag against its opposite side and thereafterpermitting said arms again to swing outwardly to release the closed bagand permit the application of another bag to said fingers.

3. In a machine of the class described, bag mouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a circular frame having a plurality ofbag positions, each of said positions having a pair of fingers adaptedto project into the interior of the bag mouth mounted in spaced relationon said frame and a pair of bag mouth holding arms swingably mounted onthe frame and biased to swing outwardly from said frame to aid saidfingers in holding the bag mouth open, means for rotating said frame,and cam members extending circumferentially along said frame to coactwith said arms to cause the said arms to be swung into position adjacentsaid frame to close the bag and said cams thereafter permitting saidarms to swing outwardly to release the closed bag and permit theapplication of another bag to be held temporarily in open position.

4. In a machine of the class described, bag mouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a circular frame having a plurality ofbag positions and at each of said positions a pair of fingers adapted toproject into the interior of the bag mouth mounted in spaced relation onsaid frame, a pair of arms, one pivoted to the frame adjacent each ofsaid fingers, and each carrying at its outer end a bag mouth engagingfinger,.means for biasing said arms to -,swing outwardly from said frameso as to cause said fingers to hold the mouth of a bag stretched intoopen position for filling, means for rotating said frame, cam membersextending circumferentially along said frame to cause the arms at saidrespective bag positions to be swung adiacent said frame so as to closeone side of the bag against its opposite side and thereafter permittingsaid arms again to swing outwardly to release the closed bag and permitthe application of another bag to said fingers, and a yieldable mountingfor one of said frame mounted fingers biasing said .finger to compensatefor variation in the size of the bags.

5. I; a machine of the class described, bag mouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism for flat folded bags comprising a circular framehaving a plurality of bag positions and at each of said positions a pairof fingers adapted to project into the interior of the bag mouth mountedin spaced relation on said frame, a pair of arms, one pivoted to theframe adjacent each of said fingers and each carrying at its outer end abag mouth engaging finger, means for biasing said arms to swingoutwardly from said frame so as to cause said fingers to hold the mouthof a bag stretched into open position for filling, means for rotatingsaid frame, cam members extending circumferentially along said frame tocause the arms at said respective bag positions to be swung adjacentsaid frame so as to close one side of the bag against its opposite sidefrom fold to fold and thereafter permitting said arms again to swingoutwardly to release the closed bag and permit the application ofanother bag to said fingers, a yielding mounting for one of said framemounted fingers biasing said finger to compensate for variation in thesize of the bags, and means for preventing the shifting of the mouth ofsaid bag on said fingers during said closing.

6. In a machine of the character described, a rotary frame, a device onsaid frame for receiving and holding the mouth of a bag, a rotary bagtable below said frame for supporting the bottom of the bag, means forsupporting said frame and bag table for rotary movement, meansforrotating the frame and bag table at the same "peed, said rotary bagtable comprising a central support and a plurality of segments pivotedthereto, each of said segments having a downwardly directed arm, a pairof rollers, one larger than the other, mounted on each of said arms, asupporting cam cooperating with one of said rollers and a jolting camcooperating with the other of said rollers, and means for adjustablymounting said cams in fixed position.

7. In a machine of the class described, a stationary central supportingcolumn, a bag mouthholding frame carried by said column and rotatableconcentrically with respect thereto, a sleeve member mounted forrotation on said column, a bag-supporting platform rotatably mounted onthe column below said sleeve member, mechanism 'a,s4o,sss

height or the bag-supporting platform on said column to accommodate bagsof different height.

8. In a machine of the class described, a stationary central supportingcolumn, a bag-mouthholding frame carried by said column and rotatableconcentrically with respect thereto, a sleeve member mounted forrotation on said column. a bag-supporting platform rotatably mounted onthe column below said sleeve member, mechanism for rotating said frameand sleeve member in unison, a pair of vertical rods extendingdownwardly from said sleeve member, said bag-supporting platform havingapertures to receive said rods in shdable relation therewith, elevatingand lowering mechanism for adjusting the height of the bag-supportingplatform on said column to accommodate bags of different height, and apositioning member for the sides of the bags mounted on said rods.

9. In a machine of the character described, a rotary frame, a device onsaid frame for receiving and holding the mouth of a bag, a rotary bagtable below said frame for supporting the bottom of the bag, means forsupporting said frame and bag table for rotary movement, means forrotating the frame and bag table at the same speed, said rotary bagtable comprising a central support and a plurality of segments pivotedthereto, each of said segments having a downwardly directed arm, asupporting cam and a jolting cam cooperating with said arms, and meansfor interior thereof and mounted in spaced relation on said frame, apair of arms pivoted to the frame in spaced relation at each of said bagpositions, each of said arms having a similar mouth engaging finger forengaging the mouth of the bag on the interior thereof, the fingersadiustably mounting said cams in fixed position.

10. In a machine of the class described, bag mouth-supporting andmanipulatingmechanism comprising a frame having a plurality of bagpositions, means for supporting said frame for rotary movement, each ofsaid bag positions having a pair of fingers adapted to project into themouth of a. bag to engage the interior thereof and mounted inspacedrelation on said frame, a pair of arms pivoted to the frame in spacedrelation at each of said bag positions, each of said arms having asimilar mouth-engaging finger to cooperate with the fingers on the framein holding the bag, means for rotating said frame, means for swingingsaid pivoted arms outwardly from said frame to cause the mouth of thebag to be stretchedand held in open position, and means for swingingsaid arms inwardly to move the bagholding fingers thereof into positionadjacent said frame to close the bag.

11. In a machine of the class described, bagmouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a frame having a plurality of bagpositions, means for supporting said frame for rotary movement, each ofsaid bag positions hav-- ing a pair of downwardly directedbag-mouth-engaging fingers mounted in spaced relation on said frame, apair of arms pivoted to the frame in spaced relation at each of said bagpositions, each of said arms having a. downwardly directedbagmouth-engaging finger, the fingers on said arms and frame cooperatingin holding the mouth of a bag, means for rotating said frame, means forswinging said pivoted arms outwardly from said frame to cause the mouthof the bag to be stretched and held in open position, and means forswinging said arms inwardly to close the bag.

12. In a machine of the class described, bagmouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a frame having a plurality of bag onsaid arms and frame cooperating in holding the mouth of the bag, the bagbeing positioned with a side seam thereof adjacent one of the fingers onthe frame. means for swinging said pivoted arms outwardly from saidframe to cause the mouth of the bag to be stretched and held in openposition, means for swinging aid arms inwardly to move the bag-holdingfingers thereof into position adjacent said frame to close the bag, thesurface of said bag shifting. on the fingers of said arms during theswinging movement thereof, and clamping means for engaging the bag toprevent the shifting of the side seam thereof away from the fingeradjacent which it is placed. 13. In a machine of the class described,bag mouth-supporting and manipulating mechanism comprising a framehaving a plurality of bag positions, means for supporting said frame forrotary movement, each of said bag positions having a pair of fingers onthe frame adapted to engage the mouth of a bag on the interior thereofand mounted in spaced relation on said frame, a pair of arms pivoted tothe frame in spaced relation at each of said bag positions, each of saidarms having a finger for similarly engaging the mouth of the bag on theinterior thereof, the fingers on said arms and frame cooperating inholding the mouth of the bag, the bag being positioned with a side seamthereof adjacent one of the fingers on the frame, means for swingingsaid pivoted arms outwardly from said frame to cause the mouth of thebag to be stretched and held in open position, means for swinging saidarms inwardly to move the bag-holding fingers thereof into positionadjacent said frame to close the bag, the surface of said bag shiftingon the fingers of said arms during the'swinging movement thereof, andclamping means between the fingers on said frame for engaging the mouthof the bag therebetween to prevent the shifting of the side seam of thebag away from the finger on said frame adjacent which it is placed.

14. In a machine of the class described, bagmouth-supporting andmanipulating mechanism comprising a frame having a plurality of bagpositions, means for supporting said frame for rotary movement, each ofsaid bag positions having a pair of fingers on the frame adapted toengage the mouth. of a bag on the interior thereof and mounted in spacedrelation on said frame, a pair of arms pivoted to the frame in.

spaced relation at each of said bag positions, each of said arms havinga finger for engaging the mouth of the bag on the interior thereof, thefingers on said arms and frame cooperating in holding the mouth of thebag, the bag being positioned with a side seam thereof adjacent one ofthe fingers on the frame, means for swinging said pivoted arms outwardlyfrom said frame to cause the mouth of the bag to be stretched and heldin open position, means for swinging said arms inwardly to move thebag-holding fingers thereof into position adjacent said frame to closethe bag, the surface of said bag shifting on the fingers of said armsduring the swinging movement thereof, a clamping finger pivoted on saidframe between the bag-holding fingers thereon, and means for actuatingsaid clamping finger to clamp the margin of the bag to prevent theshifting of the bag side seam away from the finger adjacent which it isplaced.

15. In a machine of the class described, a supporting member having atleast three flanged rollers thereon positioned in spaced relation in acircular path and mounted to rotate about vertical axes, a bag mouthsupporting frame having an internal ring portion engaging said flangedrollers to support the frame for rotary movement, a rotary bag tablebelow said frame for supporting the bottom of the bag, means forsupporting said table for rotary movement, and means for rotating saidframe and table in unison.

16. In a machine of the character described,

a rotary frame, a device on said frame for receiving and holding themouth of a bag,a rotary bag table below said frame for supporting-thebottom of the bag, means for supporting said frame and bag table forrotary movement and mechanism for rotating the frame and bag table atthe same speed, said rotary bag table com. prising a central support anda plurality 01' seg. ments pivoted thereto, each of said segments havinga downwardly directed arm, a jolting cam cooperating with said arm, andmeans for mountlng said cam in fixed position.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. MALCOLM McFAULL. CORNELIUS I. BRAREN.

